Back in Tahiti again

We sailed strait from Bora Bora back to Tahiti. We left early one morning in the rain. Before we got past the South end of Raiatea, it was clear again. We were sailing a close reach and by the next morning we could see Maiao, which has no harbor. We tacked up toward Moorea, but the sea was weird and sloppy. We think it was wrap around of the swells as both Moorea and Tahiti lie directly in the SE trade winds. Night was coming on again as we passed the South side of Moorea and entered the channel near Marina Taina on the NW side of Tahiti.

Back where we had been anchored before, but mostly different boats now. We saw a gal paddle boarding with her cat, like I used to take Sophie. The cat did not seem to mind, but jumped up on her friends boat and was not real excited to get back on the board and go home to her boat.

We came back to Tahiti because we had do more planning for our wedding. We checked out the Intercontinental Tahiti, which is very near where we anchor. It is a huge complex, not unlike the one in Moorea. They have their own little lagoon with fish, an infinity pool that looks like it goes into the lagoon and access to the harbor for diveboats and jet skis.

Inside the hotel they had a model ship of the Bounty.

It is a great story and based on what we have seen, no wonder those guys wanted to jump ship and stay here!! Be sure to see one of the movies (it was made 3 times “Mutiny on the Bounty”), but the locals favorite is the second one with a very young Marlon Brando. He was so popular here, that he married several local ladies (not all at once) and bought the island of Tetiaroa, which was where the French had exiled all of the Kings and Cheifs, not far from Tahiti. Unfortunately it also has no harbor, so we can't sail Avatar over there. But there is always the possibility of a day charter on a local boat with little to no draft that can sneak over a slightly low spot in the reef. (Maybe in the future ;-) . OK back to the Intercontinental. There were some cool tapa cloths framed inside stairwell too.

And from the upper level where Reception is, there is a fabulous view of the pool, lagoon and Moorea in the distance.

It would be a great place to go out for a special dinner. The bungalows over the water cost $250 per night or more.

On a Sunday when everything is closed here, we decided to cool off and go for a snorkel. We had heard about a plane wreck near the end of the runway, so we went in search. There is an area that is quardoned off for no fishing and this is where we found them. First we saw the hull of an old steel sailboat.

Then a small plane was next to it, with one wing jaggedly ripped off of it.

Mike dove down to check it out in about 25-30 feet of water. You can tell this area is protected and the fish know it. People must feed them here regularly as they swarmed around us. Mike could hardly see me dive for the airplane, there were so many fish!!

We don't know if anyone died in the plane wreck, but there were no bodies or skeletons.

We swam on past the wrecks and found some coral. Hidden in one of the crevasses was our first sighting of a Lion Fish. Their spikes are poisonous, so we left him well enough alone!

As we were getting back into the dingy, this cow fish swam strait at me, then turned when I moved. It was about a foot long!

We never get tired of the view of Moorea. And of course the sun sets behind her now as the Sun is on it's trip South.

There are almost always clouds covering one of her many peaks, but one day Mike caught this great shot of her with no clouds at all.

By this time, in late August many of the “staybehinders” were putting their boats to bed, while they fly home for the upcoming hurricane season. We met Steve and Lili aboard Liward over in Huahine. This is their 4^th season of cruising the Society Islands!! Steve had to play his guitar one more time for a going away dock party. He invited a young local guy to play with him. The kid was only 16 or 17 but he could rock out with Steve.

Lots of both old and new friends showed up for the music and we all brought some snacks and drinks. It was a good time!! The kid's family and other locals showed up to watch them jam as well.

Then some other musicians, a drummer and flutist showed up later and we got to hear an even deeper mix of music, including some Jethro Tull.

 My buddy Robbie Kupps, who I taught sailing with in Puerto Vallarta, finally got his boat out here to the South Pacific as well. So many days we had talked about making this trip and we are both finally here!!

The days are dripping slowly on the page as time goes by. The sun continues its march South and the rain is beginning to happen more often as the rainy season is now approaching. But I never get tired of watching the sunset! It is like a religion my Grandmother taught me. Take time every day you can and enjoy life to the fullest!!

                              rain in this sunset